Congress

Elon Floated to Replace Johnson as House Speaker in Latest Bonkers Move

REALLY HAPPENING?

Republican figures are seriously talking up the tech billionaire’s chances of replacing Mike Johnson.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk waves on a visit to Capitol Hill.
LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS

MAGA talking heads are seriously calling for golden boy Elon Musk to be made Speaker of the House after his contribution to the torpedoing of a bipartisan spending bill that would have warded off a festive government shut down.

The billionaire Tesla CEO successfully lobbied—with President-elect Donald Trump’s help—for the death of the lengthy bill that would have staved off a shutdown and funded the government through March.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol. Alex Wong/Alex Wong/Getty Images

His performance Wednesday, propped up by an X posting storm, had many Democrats jokingly referring to 53-year-old as “President Musk.” But now, it appears comments about Musk getting a Capitol gig are not actually tongue-in-cheek anymore.

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“The Speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress...” Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul posted on X Thursday.

He continued: “Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk... think about it... nothing’s impossible. (Not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka ‘uniparty,’ lose their ever-lovin’ minds).”

Rand Paul
Sen. Rand Paul likes the idea

Paul was seemingly referring to the fact that the Constitution does not require the Speaker to be a member of the House, as noted in a 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service. However, there has never been an example of a non-member taking control of the gavel in the chamber’s 235-year history.

Even still, MAGA tongues are wagging at the thought of Musk taking over from Mike Johnson, whose bill the X boss helped to bury.

Georgia rep Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X, saying: “I’d be open to supporting @elonmusk for Speaker of the House. DOGE can only truly be accomplished by reigning in Congress to enact real government efficiency.”

“The establishment needs to be shattered just like it was yesterday. This could be the way.”

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Chip Roy talk with reporters about a bipartisan government funding bill outside the U.S. Capitol Building.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Chip Roy talk with reporters about a bipartisan government funding bill outside the U.S. Capitol Building. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Fox’s House of Representatives reporter Liz Elkind said “rank-and-file” lawmakers were “frustrated” with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

“I’ll have nothing to do with them after watching them publicly trash the Speaker,” one said, Elkind reported on X.

A second accused them of “free-lancing and shooting off the hip” without talking to Trump.

Elon Musk
Elon Musk has grown close to Trump

And despite the buzz around him, the tech billionaire’s ambition should stop short of dreams of the presidency, as Musk would be barred from running on a count of him being born in South Africa.

However, that didn’t deter Musk from an X victory lap on Wednesday night. “Your elected representatives have heard you and now the terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed!” he said.

Johnson replaced ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy more than a year ago, but could be in trouble come a full House vote in the new year.

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